Trump condemns US race hate at last
President’s condemnation came after alt-right seized on his initial comments as vindication for their action
Donald Trump finally condemned the “evil” of “racist violence” in Charlottesville, two days after a white supremacist rally in the Virginia town left three people dead. Following widespread anger at his initial response, the president addressed the nation from the White House and warned those behind the riots they would be held criminally responsible.
Harriet Alexander
David Millward
DONALD TRUMP finally condemned the “evil” of “racist violence” in Charlottesville yesterday, two days after a white supremacist rally in the Virginia town that left three people dead.
After mounting criticism at his failure to speak out against white supremacist groups, Mr Trump addressed the nation from the White House and warned those behind Saturday’s riots that they will be held criminally responsible.
After widespread cross-party anger at his initial response – in which he condemned violence “on many sides” – the president yesterday delivered a more measured response, in which he called out neo-nazis and the Ku Klux Klan.
“I would like to provide the nation with an update on the ongoing federal response to the horrific attack and violence that was witnessed by everyone,” said Mr Trump. “To anyone who acted criminally at this weekend’s racist violence, you will be held fully accountable.”
He described the rally on Saturday as an “egregious display of hatred and violence” which, he said, “has no place in America”. He continued: “Racism is evil. And those who cause violence in its name are criminals and thugs, including the KKK, neo-nazis, white supremacists, and other hate groups that are repugnant to everything we hold dear as Americans.
“We are a nation founded on the premise that all are created equal. We are equal in the eyes of our creator, we are equal under the law, and we are equal under our Constitution.
“Those who spread violence in the name of bigotry strike at the very core of America.”
Mr Trump paid tribute to Heather Heyer, the 32-year-old who died when a car rammed into a group of anti-hate protesters. The alleged driver, James Fields, has been charged with felonies including murder and malicious wounding.
The president also commended two Virginia state troopers killed when their helicopter crashed on Saturday. “These three fallen Americans embody the goodness and decency of our nation,” he said. “In times such as these, America has always shown its true character.”
Reading from a teleprompter, the president’s remarks were seen as a belated condemnation of the white supremacists who politicians across the political spectrum held responsible for the mayhem in Charlottesville.
Al Sharpton, the veteran black activist, was unimpressed by Mr Trump’s response. He said: “It took 48 hours... it was clearly a statement based on the pressure that he had been given over the weekend.”
Some suggested Mr Trump’s initial response had been muted because he feared alienating some of the voters who had swept him to power last November. David Duke, the former Ku Klux Klan leader, told the rally in Charlottesville that the event was in line with Mr Trump’s election promises.
“This represents a turning point for the people of this country. We are determined to take our country back.
“We are going to fulfil the promises of Donald Trump. That’s what we believed in. That’s why we voted for Donald Trump, because he said he’s going to take our country back.”
Several senior Republicans had called on Mr Trump to show leadership in explicitly condemning the white supremacists. Orrin Hatch, one of the longest serving members of the Senate, said his brother did not die fighting Hitler for Nazi ideas to go unchallenged in the United States. John Mccain, one of Mr Trump’s fiercest Republican critics in the Senate, added: “White supremacists and neo-nazis are, by definition, opposed to American patriotism and the ideals that define us as a people and make our nation special.”
The fallout from Charlottesville and Mr Trump’s initial response also cost him a black American member of his manufacturing council.
Kenneth Frazier, the chief executive of Merck, a major pharmaceutical company, announced yesterday he had resigned as a matter of conscience. Mr Trump last night rounded on “the Fake News Media” over its reporting of his stance on the weekend’s violence.
“Made additional remarks on Charlottesville and once again realise that the #Fake News Media will never be satisfied,” the president wrote on Twitter.
Al Thomas, Charlottesville’s police chief, said last night that his officers did what they could to prevent violence erupting. Arrangements had been made with the organisers of the altright rally over how it would be conducted.
“We were hoping they would co-op- erate with the plan,” he said. “We did make attempts to keep the two sides separate .... We certainly have regrets. It was a tragic, tragic weekend.”
There was anxiety that more violence could erupt at other alt-right rallies. Right-wing groups have planned a “Free Speech Rally” in Boston on Saturday. They expect around 1,000 to attend. Marty Walsh, Boston’s mayor, pleaded with the alt-right groups to stay away as at least 4,000 counter protesters have said on Facebook that they also intend to turn up.